System for adjusting smoothing tools of a harrow using a linear actuator

ABSTRACT

By providing a linear actuator in communication with a slide bar disposed in a channel, and by configuring multiple bars of a harrow to achieve an angle of rotation defined by the slide bar, the angle of rotation for smoothing tools of the harrow may be precisely controlled by the linear actuator. As a result, an infinite range of downward angles may be available for the smoothing tools for achieving various effects with the soil.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to tillage implements and, inparticular, to an agricultural tillage implement with a soil finishingsystem having a multiple bar harrow supporting smoothing tools and alinear actuator for adjusting an angle of smoothing tools for use duringa tilling session.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tillage implements such as cultivators are getting larger and morecomplex over time to improve tilling efficiency and seedbedcharacteristics. For example, cultivators are getting wider to allowtilling more soil is a single pass, which improves equipmentproductivity. Shanks and other components of the cultivators are alsogetting larger and more robust to allow increased travel speeds whiletilling, which further improves equipment productivity. Further effortshave been made to improve soil leveling and other seedbedcharacteristics, such as by incorporating soil finishing systems whichmay include multiple harrows having tines for breaking up and smoothingout the surface of the soil behind main tillage tools of the tillageimplements.

It is often desirable to adjust the angle at which the harrows contactthe ground during a tilling session. This may be useful depending on thesoil's looseness or firmness, or for achieving various effects with thesoil. To adjust the angle, pins on each tine support channel of a harroware typically removed so that they may be moved to a different angle.Then, the pins are replaced. This must be done for each harrow sectionof the tillage implement.

However, for a typical tillage implement having two mounting arms perharrow section, and as many as 8 harrow sections, this may require theoperator to remove, adjust and replace as many as 16 pins. This can betime consuming and physically strenuous. In addition, there aretypically only about three positions to choose from for each pinposition for achieving various angles. This may be overly limiting insome applications in which more precise control is desired. What isneeded is tillage implement having harrows which eliminate one or moreof the foregoing disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have recognized that by providing a linearactuator in communication with a slide bar disposed in a channel, and byconfiguring multiple bars of a harrow to achieve an angle of rotationdefined by the slide bar, the angle of rotation for smoothing tools ofthe harrow may be precisely controlled by the linear actuator. As aresult, an infinite range of downward angles may be available for thesmoothing tools for achieving various effects with the soil.

In one aspect, a tine angle can be adjusted using a linear actuatorversus current method of a pin adjustment that manually changes the tineangle. Several components of the tine harrow assembly may be modified toincorporate the linear actuator, including adding brackets to position alinear actuator to a tine channel, and modifying a tine inner slidepiece to hook onto the linear actuator. Accordingly, the linear actuatormay extend or retract to control the mechanism for the tine angle.

In one aspect, the tine angle setting on a tine harrow can behydraulically controlled from the tractor cab (on-the-go) and set forthe most aggressive setting for optimum field leveling and residue flowbased on current field conditions. Accordingly, cylinder force may becontrolled from the tractor cab to maintain a desired tine anglesetting.

The present invention may provide one or more of: (1) ease of adjustmentfor harrows; (2) infinite range of tine angles (versus current threeposition settings); (3) improved efficiency; and/or (4) improvedproductivity. With respect to efficiency, if it takes an operatorapproximately one minute per mount to adjust a current 60′ tillageimplement having 8 harrow sections and two mounting arms per harrowsection, then the operator has used approximately 16 minutes to make anadjustment, as well as one to two minutes traveling to and from thetractor from the tillage implement a 60′ tillage implement operated atabout 8 miles per hour (mph) could cover approximate 1 acre per minute.Consequently, without the invention, the operator might cover 18 lessacres in a standard 10 hour day every time the operator is required toadjust the tine harrow. With respect to productivity, since it is timeconsuming and physically strenuous to adjust the tine harrow without theinvention, the tine harrow might not be adjusted for changing conditionsas may be required, which may cause reduced crop yields.

Specifically then, one aspect of the present invention may provide anagricultural tillage implement, including: a main implement framesupporting a set of ground-engaging tillage tools for tilling soilduring a tilling session for seedbed preparation; and a soil finishsystem supported by the main implement frame for smoothing the soiltilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools, the soil finish systemincluding: (a) a harrow supported in a trailing position with respect tothe main implement frame, in which the harrow includes a harrow framewith multiple bars arranged generally transversely with respect to atravel direction of the agricultural tillage implement, in which themultiple bars support a first set of smoothing tools for smoothing thesoil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools; and (b) a linearactuator connected to the harrow, in which the linear actuator isconfigured to define an angle of the first set of smoothing tools forthe tilling session.

Another aspect may provide an agricultural tillage implement, including:a main implement frame supporting a set of ground-engaging tillage toolsfor tilling soil during a tilling session for seedbed preparation; and asoil finish system supported by the main implement frame for smoothingthe soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools, the soil finishsystem including: (a) a harrow supported in a trailing position withrespect to the main implement frame, in which the harrow includes aharrow frame with multiple bars arranged generally transversely withrespect to a travel direction of the agricultural tillage implement withthe multiple bars of the harrow frame including a front bar arrangedtoward a front end of the harrow, a hack bar arranged toward a back endof the harrow, and an intermediate bar arranged between the front andback bars of the harrow, in which the harrow includes a first set ofsmoothing tools supported by the front, back, and intermediate bars ofthe harrow frame for smoothing the soil tilled by the ground-engagingtillage tools; (b) a linear actuator connected to the harrow, in whichthe linear actuator is configured to define an angle of the first set ofsmoothing tools for the tilling session; and (c) a finishing toolsupported in a trailing position with respect to the harrow with thefinishing tool including a second set of smoothing tools for smoothingthe soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools.

Other aspects, objects, features, and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the an from the following detaileddescription and accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however,that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicatingpreferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way ofillustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications maybe made within the scope of the present invention without departing fromthe spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent likeparts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an agricultural tillage implement with asoil finishing system having a multiple bar harrow and linear actuatorfor adjusting an angle of the harrow according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the soil finishing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the linear actuator and harrow of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detailed isometric view of the linear actuator and harrow ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detailed underside isometric view of the harrow of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 6 is a partial side elevation view of the soil finishing system ofFIG. 1 with a control system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and specifically to FIG. 1, agriculturaltillage implement 10 is towable by a tractor (not shown) or othervehicle and is shown with main tillage implement 15 and soil finishingsystem 20 that improves soil leveling, as explained in greater detailelsewhere herein. Main tillage implement 15 is shown here as acultivator with main implement frame 25 that has multiple sections,represented as main frame section 30 and outer wing sections 35 onopposite sides of main frame section 30. Main implement frame 25supports a set of ground-engaging tillage tools 40 for tilling soilduring a tilling session for seedbed preparation. Tillage tools 40 areshown here as sweeps 45 mounted to shanks 50 that are attached to mainimplement frame 25. Although shown as sweeps 45 mounted to shanks 50, itis understood that ground-engaging tillage tools 40 may be otherground-engaging tillage tools, such as coulters, disks, and rippers.

Still referring to FIG. 1, finishing system 20 is shown with harrow 55arranged trailing behind tillage implement 10 and finishing tool 60arranged trailing behind harrow 55. Harrow 55 is shown as coil tineharrow 65 with multiple sections, shown as intermediate harrow sections70 and outer harrow sections 75 on opposite sides of intermediate harrowsections 70.

Referring now to FIG. 2, each harrow section 70, 75 (FIG. 1) includes atleast one harrow arm 80 with front end 85 with bracket 90 arranged atfront end 85. Bracket 90 has front section 95 that is attached to themain implement frame 25 and lower flanges 100 arranged on opposite sidesof the harrow arm 80 with mounting holes 105 through which pin 110extends. Lobes 112 extend up and rearward at an angle from bracket frontsection 95 and lower flanges 100 above harrow arm 80 rearward of pin110.

Harrow arm 80 may be rectangular tubing with interconnected walls thattogether provide a box configuration of harrow arm 80. A pair ofparallel harrow locating arms 130 provides a parallel linkage systemthat connects the harrow arm 80 to the rest of harrow 55. Harrowlocating arms 130 may include open channel construction(s) defined by amain wall that extends transversely between a pair of side walls.

Harrow locating arms 130 have upper ends that attach to each harrow arm80 at a corresponding pair of upper harrow locating arm pivotconnections 140. Harrow locating arms 130 also have lower ends thatconnect each harrow arm 80 to harrow frame 150 at a corresponding pairof lower harrow locating arm pivot connections 155 at spaced-apartlocations connected to a strut 160 of harrow frame 150. The back lowerharrow locating arm pivot connection 155 is arranged at a back end 165of strut 160, and the front lower harrow locating arm pivot connection155 is arranged at a front end 170 of strut 160

Upper and lower harrow locating arm pivot connections 140 and 155,respectively, allow the harrow frame 150 to articulate by swinginglongitudinally in a back/up and forward/down direction(s) as guided bythe pivoting movement of the harrow locating arms 130 with respect tothe harrow arm 80 and the harrow frame 150 with respect to the harrowlocating arms 130. This allows harrow 55 to define a nonuse position inwhich harrow frame 150 is generally freely suspended from harrow arm 80,such as when tillage implement 10 (FIG. 1) is raised to removeground-engaging tillage tools 40 (FIG. 1) out of the soil. Harrow 55defines an in-use position in which the harrow frame 150 swung back andup, such as when tillage implement 10 (FIG. 1) is being towed through afield and is lowered so ground-engaging tillage tools 40 (FIG. 1) engageand till the soil. During use, harrow locating arms 130 transverselylocate harrow frame 150 while harrow 55 is towed by chain(s) 175 (FIG.2) that are pulled taut while traveling and extends between and connectspin 110 (FIG. 2) in bracket(s) 90 to a front portion of harrow frame150, such as to front end 170 of strut 160. When in the in-use position,harrow 55 is translated rearwardly with respect to the harrow arm 80, aspermitted by chain(s) 175. This may move harrow frame 150 rearwardly sothat intermediate bar 190 is arranged generally below locating arm pivotconnection 140 of the rear locating arm 130.

Movement of harrow frame 150 may be limited in a forward, direction sothat the nonuse position defines a forward movement limited position.The forward movement limited position corresponds to a position at whichfurther forward movement of harrow 150 is prevented by limitingarrangement 176, shown here as stop 177. Upper leg 178 is attached to alower wall of harrow arm 80 and lower leg 179 extends angularly down andrearward from the upper leg 178 so the upper and lower legs 178, 179intersect each other and define an obtuse angle. A rearward facingsurface of lower leg 179 faces and engages a forward facing surface of amain wall of the front locating arm 130 when the harrow frame 150translates forward so that that stop 177 prevents further motion ofharrow frame 150 in the forward direction to define the forward movementlimited position as shown in FIG. 2. Limiting arrangement 176 may bearranged so that locating arms 130 angle slightly rearward when theharrow frame 150 is in the nonuse and forward movement limited position.

Struts 160 support multiple bars 180 of harrow frame 150, with themultiple bars 180 arranged transversely across harrow 55, generallyperpendicular to struts 160. Harrow 55 is shown here with a three barconfiguration in which front bar 185 is arranged toward a front end ofharrow 55, intermediate bar 190 arranged behind front bar 185, and aback bar 195 arranged behind both of the front and intermediate bars 185and 190, respectively toward a back end of harrow 55. Front,intermediate, and back bars 185, 190 and 195, respectively, collectivelysupport a first set of smoothing tools 200 that are configured to smooththe soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools 40. The first setof smoothing tools 200 is represented as tines 205, shown here as springtines. In alternative aspects, the harrow 55 may have a greater orlesser number of bars.

Tines 205 are spaced from each other and mounted to each of the front,intermediate, and back bars 185, 190, 195. Each of the tines 205 may bea multiple tine component with a pair of tine fingers that extend fromspring coils at opposite sides of the tine 205 and a connecting segmentthat interconnects the coils and is captured by a plate arranged betweenthe coils to mount the tine(s) 205 to a respective bar 185, 190, 195 ofharrow frame 150. Different bars 185, 190, 195 may have differentnumbers of tines 205 mounted to them. For example, front bar 185 mayhave fewer tines 205 mounted to it than the number of tines 205 mountedto intermediate and/or back bars 190, 195. Tines 205 of different bars185, 190, 195 may be staggered with respect to each other, with fingersof tines 205 of one of the bars 185, 190, 195 aligned within the gapsbetween adjacent fingers of tines 205 on a different bar(s) 185, 190,195. This provides a collective drag path that substantially covers anentire width of a path tilled by main tillage implement 15 so that tines205 of the three rows of bars 185, 190, 195 as shown can level the soiltilled by tillage tools 40.

Finishing tool arms 210 connect finishing tools 60 to harrow anus 80.Each finishing tool arm 210 may be rectangular tubing withinterconnected walls that together provide a box configuration.Finishing tool arm 210 has a straight front segment 220 toward front end225 and a curved back segment 230 that extends from front segment 220toward back end 235. In this way, at least a portion of front segment220 of finishing tool arm 210 overlaps a portion of the harrow arm 80and the back segment 230 of finishing tool arm 210 extends along acurved path rearward and downward toward back end 235. A support yoke240 extends upwardly from an upper surface of harrow arm 80 and providesa U-shaped channel in which part of the front segment 220 sits and istransversely restrained when finishing tool arm 210 is in a downwardposition. Each finishing, tool arm 210 includes bracket 245 at front end225, with a portion of bracket 245 overlapping a corresponding portionof the harrow arm 80. Bracket 245 has a back segment 250 from whichfinishing tool arm 210 extends and a lower portion 255 with a pair oflower lobes 260 that extend over and sandwich the finishing tool arm210. A pair of upper lobes 265 extends up and forward at an angle fromthe lower lobes 260, above and in front of finishing tool arm, front end225. Bracket 245 is arranged to pivot with respect to the harrow arm 80,defining a finishing tool arm pivot connection 270. Finishing tool armpivot connection 270 defines a pivot axis that extends transverselythrough harrow arm 80, shown with the pivot axis of finishing tool armpivot connection 270 arranged generally above intermediate bar 190 whenthe harrow is in the nonuse position.

Referring again to FIG. 1, finishing tools 60 have a second set ofsmoothing tools 275 and are shown here as formed bar baskets 280, suchas crumbler baskets, that are arranged trailing behind respective harrowsections 70, 75 (FIG. 1). The smoothing tools 275 of formed bar baskets280 are bars 285 that at least partially define the formed bar baskets280. Bars 285 may be flat bars, round bars, or curved bars withsemicircular or curved cross-sectional shapes. Bars 285 may be spacedfrom each other and extending helically to collectively define ahelically slotted outer circumferential surface of the formed barbaskets 280 that rolls over and further levels soil tilled by tillagetools 40 after having been previously leveled by tines 205.

Formed bar baskets 280 roll over the soil with pressure applied by downpressure system 295, which may be a hydraulic pressure system, and whichmay be controlled by a control system. The down pressure system 295 maybe controlled to provide down pressure to finishing tool 60.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, a linear actuator 400, which may be amechanical actuator, hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator,electro-mechanical actuator, and/or some combination thereof, may beconnected to the harrow frame 150 to define an angle θ between a firstplane 402, horizontal to the harrow frame 150, and second planes 404,defined by the three rows of bars 185, 190, 195, of the first set ofsmoothing tools 200 for a tilling session. A linear actuator 400 may beprovided for each harrow section 70, 75 on the tillage implement 10. Inone aspect, a first end of the linear actuator 400 may be connected to abracket 406 mounted on an upper side of strut 160. A second end of thelinear actuator 400 may be connected to an upper portion 408 a of slidebar 408. As may best be seen in FIG. 5, a lower portion 408 b of theslide bar 408 may be disposed in a U-shaped open channel 410 defined bya main wall that extends transversely between a pair of side walls in alower side of strut 160. The upper portion 408 a of the slide bar 408protrudes through a slot 412 in the strut 160 for connection to thelinear actuator 400, while the lower portion 408 b of slide bar 408extends along the channel 410. The strut 160 may have supports 414 formounting the three rows of bars 185, 190, 195. As a result, the slidebar 408, in communication with the linear actuator 400 at the upperportion and the three rows of bars 185, 190, 195 at a lower portion, maybe operable to define the angle θ of the first set of smoothing tools200 by stopping a rotation of the three rows of bars 185, 190, 195,beyond a predetermined angle, by pushing or pulling the slide bar 408via, actuation of the linear actuator 400. Accordingly, the linearactuator 400, in cooperation, with the slide bar 408, may allow for aninfinite range of downward angles to be available for the first set ofsmoothing tools 200 of the harrow 55 for achieving various effects withthe soil.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a control system 300 may include an HMI (humanmachine interface) configured to allow a user to control the linearactuator 400 and therefore control and adjust the angle θ of the firstset of smoothing tools 200 for a tilling session. Control system 300 mayinclude an electronic controller 302 that has at least one mastercontroller or implement controller, shown as controller 305. Controller305 includes a microprocessor and may be implemented as a PLC(programmable logic controller) or other industrial computers along withcorresponding software and suitable memory for storing such software andhardware including interconnecting conductors for power and signaltransmission and communication for controlling electronic,electro-mechanical, pneumatic, and/or hydraulic components, includingcontrol valves, actuators, and other components, of the linear actuator400 or other component of tillage implement 10. In one aspect, controlsystem 300 may be implemented with mechanical controls, such as a knob306 of a hydraulic control valve 307 in an exemplar hydraulic system,which can be manually operated to control and adjust the distanceprovided by linear actuator 400. The HMI and/or control knob 306 aretypically mounted within a cab of the tractor that tows tillageimplement 10 (FIG. 1) so the operator can adjust the angle of the firstset of smoothing tools 200 from within the cab, although it isunderstood that they may be mounted on the tillage implement 10 (FIG. 1)itself.

Although the best mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out thepresent invention is disclosed above, practice of the above invention,is not limited thereto. It will be manifest that various additions,modifications and rearrangements of the features of the presentinvention may be made without deviating from the spirit and the scope ofthe underlying inventive concept.

We claim:
 1. An agricultural tillage implement, comprising: a mainimplement frame supporting a set of ground-engaging tillage tools fortilling soil during a tilling session for seedbed preparation; and asoil finish system supported by the main implement frame for smoothingthe soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools, the soil finishsystem including: a harrow supported in a trailing position with respectto the main implement frame, the harrow includes: a harrow arm having aforward end operatively connected to the main implement frame; a harrowframe including a strut pivotably connected to the harrow arm and havingmultiple bars pivotably connected thereto, the strut including an upperwall having a passage therethrough and defining a downwardly directedchannel, wherein the multiple bars are arranged generally transverselywith respect to a travel direction of the agricultural tillageimplement; a slide bar having an upper portion extending through thepassage in the upper wall of the strut and a lower portion slidablyreceived in the channel; a first set of smoothing tools operativelyconnected to the multiple bars for smoothing the soil tilled by theground-engaging tillage tools; a tow line operatively connecting thestrut to the main implement frame, the tow line limiting movement of theharrow as the agricultural tillage implement travels during the tillingsession; a linear actuator having a first end fixed to the upper walland a second end interconnected to the upper portion of the slide bar,wherein linear movement of the linear actuator causes the lower portionof the slide bar to slide within the channel of the strut and pivot themultiple bars relative to the strut thereby altering an angle of thefirst set of smoothing tools relative to the strut to one of an infiniterange of angles for the tilling session.
 2. The agricultural tillageimplement of claim 1, wherein the linear actuator is anelectro-mechanical actuator.
 3. The agricultural tillage implement ofclaim 1, further comprising a finishing tool supported in a trailingposition with respect to the harrow with the finishing tool including asecond set of smoothing tools for smoothing the soil tilled by theground-engaging tillage tools.
 4. The agricultural tillage implement ofclaim 3, wherein the finishing tool is a formed bar basket and thesecond set of smoothing tools includes at least one of flat bars, roundbars, and curved bars that at least partially define the formed barbasket.
 5. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 4, wherein theharrow defines a nonuse position in which the harrow frame is generallyfreely suspended from the harrow arm, and wherein the formed bar basketis supported by a finishing tool arm that is attached to the harrow armat a finishing tool arm pivot connection.
 6. The agricultural tillageimplement of claim 5, wherein the harrow is a spring tine harrow and theharrow arm frame is interconnected to the harrow arm by parallellinkage, the parallel linkage includes: a pair of harrow locating armsthat attach the harrow arm to the harrow frame at a corresponding pairof harrow locating arm pivot connections; wherein the finishing tool isa formed bar basket finishing tool that includes: a finishing tool armconnected to the harrow arm at a finishing tool arm pivot connectionwith a pivot axis that extends transversely through the harrow arm, andwherein the finishing tool arm extends from the finishing tool arm pivotconnection rearwardly beyond the harrow arm.
 7. The agricultural tillageimplement of claim 1, wherein the multiple bars of the harrow frameincluding a front bar arranged toward a front end of the harrow, a backbar arranged toward a back end of the harrow, and an intermediate bararranged between the front and back bars of the harrow.
 8. Theagricultural tillage implement of claim 7, wherein the harrow is aspring tine harrow with each of the front, rear and intermediate bars ofthe harrow supporting spring tines that define the first set ofsmoothing tools.
 9. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1,wherein the strut supports a bracket on a first side of the strut formounting to the linear actuator.
 10. An agricultural tillage implement,comprising: a main implement frame supporting a set of ground-engagingtillage tools for tilling soil during a tilling session for seedbedpreparation; and a soil finish system supported by the main implementframe for smoothing the soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillagetools, the soil finish system including: a harrow supported in atrailing position with respect to the main implement frame, wherein theharrow includes: a harrow arm having a forward end operatively connectedto the main implement frame; a harrow frame including a strut pivotablyconnected to the harrow arm and including multiple bars pivotablyconnected thereto, the strut including an upper wall having a passagetherethrough and defining a downwardly directed channel, wherein themultiple bars are arranged generally transversely with respect to atravel direction of the agricultural tillage implement, the multiplebars including a front bar arranged toward a front end of the harrow, aback bar arranged toward a back end of the harrow, and an intermediatebar arranged between the front and back bars of the harrow; a slide barhaving an upper portion extending through the passage in the upper wallof the strut and a lower portion slidably received in the channel; afirst set of smoothing tools supported by the front, back, andintermediate bars for smoothing the soil tilled by the ground-engagingtillage tools; a tow line operatively connecting the strut to the mainimplement frame, the tow line limiting movement of the barrow as theagricultural tillage implement travels during the tilling session; alinear actuator having a first end fixed to the upper wall and a secondend interconnected to the upper portion of the slide bar, wherein linearmovement of the linear actuator causes the lower portion of the slidebar to slide within the channel of the strut and to pivot the multiplebars relative to the strut thereby altering an angle of the first set ofsmoothing tools relative to the strut for the tilling session to one ofan infinite range of angles; and a finishing tool supported in atrailing position with respect to the harrow with the finishing toolincluding a second set of smoothing tools for smoothing the soil tilledby the ground-engaging tillage tools.
 11. The agricultural tillageimplement of claim 10, wherein the linear actuator is anelectro-mechanical actuator.
 12. The agricultural tillage implement ofclaim 10, wherein the harrow is a spring tine harrow with each of thefront, rear and intermediate bars of the harrow supporting spring tinesthat define the first set of smoothing tools.
 13. The agriculturaltillage implement of claim 10, wherein the strut supports a bracket on afirst side of the strut for mounting to the linear actuator.
 14. Theagricultural tillage implement of claim 10, wherein the finishing toolis a formed bar basket and the second set of smoothing tools includes atleast one of flat bars, round bars, and curved bars that at leastpartially define the formed bar basket.
 15. The agricultural tillageimplement of claim 10, wherein the harrow defines a nonuse position inwhich the harrow frame is generally freely suspended from the harrowarm, and wherein the finishing tool includes a formed bar basketsupported by a finishing tool arm that is attached to the harrow arm ata finishing tool arm pivot connection with the finishing tool arm pivotconnection arranged generally above the intermediate bar when the harrowis in the nonuse position.
 16. The agricultural tillage implement ofclaim 10, wherein the harrow is a spring tine harrow and the harrow armframe is interconnected to the harrow arm by parallel linkage, theparallel linkage includes: a pair of harrow locating arms that attachthe harrow arm to the harrow frame at a corresponding pair of harrowlocating arm pivot connections; and wherein the finishing tool is aformed bar basket finishing tool that includes: a finishing tool armconnected to the harrow arm at a finishing tool arm pivot connectionwith a pivot axis that extends transversely through the harrow arm, andwherein the finishing tool arm extends from the finishing tool arm pivotconnection rearwardly beyond the harrow arm.